Research

Tobacco smoke: A risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension? A case control study
A new study published in the journal Chest indicates that tobacco smoke could be a risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in men. Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure were assessed in 91 patients with PAH, 64 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTPH), and 18,747 controls. The results show that smoking was significantly more common in PAH patients than in CTPH patients or controls, and PAH patients tended to have smoked for longer and more heavily than CTPH patients. Among nonsmokers, secondhand smoke exposure was more extensive in PAH patients than the controls. The evidence that smoking as a risk factor for PAH may alter the way smokers are counseled about their health risks for PAH. Read the study abstract here.

Smoking may contribute to pelvic pain in pregnancy
Researchers have found that women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have pelvic pain, a common problem among pregnant women. In this case-control study, smoking patterns and the level and duration of pain experienced during common daily activities were measured in 4,994 Danish women. The results showed that women who smoked were more likely to experience pelvic pain than nonsmokers or those who quit smoking during early pregnancy. The researchers suggest that smoking may reduce blood flow to the tissue surrounding the pelvic girdle joints, causing pain in these women. Click here to read more, or read the abstract of the study, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

More cancer-causing agents in U.S. cigarettes
An international study shows that carcinogen levels differ in cigarettes manufactured in different countries, and that popular U.S. cigarette brands contain the highest carcinogen levels of the brands included in the study. Researchers analyzed the levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) in cigarette butts, saliva, and urine of 126 daily smokers in four countries (U.S., Canada, Australia, and Britain) to determine the amount of the carcinogen present in the cigarettes. They found that levels of TSNA were lower in people from Canada and Australia than in those in the U.S. This shows that American cigarettes contain higher levels of these carcinogens, which can be attributed to the blend of tobacco and processes used in U.S. cigarette manufacturing. Click here to read more, or read the abstract of the study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Active and passive smoking and the risk of pancreatic cancer in the Netherlands Cohort Study
New research presented in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention indicates that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer, but quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing the disease. Researchers used data from the Netherlands Cohort Study, comparing the smoking status of 520 pancreatic cancer patients to 5,000 people without the disease to determine the cancer risk attributable to smoking. They found that former and current smokers were at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer (hazard ratios of 1.34 and 1.82, respectively). The researchers observed a significant increase in risk for every ten years of smoking. Those who quit smoking reduced their risk of developing pancreatic cancer, reaching risk levels on par with nonsmokers after twenty years. Read the study abstract.

Gender differences in COPD: are women more susceptible to smoking effects than men?
A new study has revealed potential gender differences in the effects of smoking on lung function. The study investigated smoking behavior and lung function reduction in 954 subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 955 without the disease, focusing on subgroups with either early onset of COPD or those that had smoked for less than 20 pack-years (low exposure). They found that females with COPD in both the low exposure and early onset groups had lower forced expiratory volume and more severe disease than males with COPD. The findings imply that the effect of smoking on lung function might differ by gender, with greater lung function reduction and more severe disease occurring in female smokers with COPD. Click here to read the study abstract, published in Thorax.

Early stages of age-related macular degeneration associated with smoking, cholesterol levels
In a recent study, researchers investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Researchers examined 2,810 participants aged 21-84 for early signs of AMD and collected data on potential risk factors, such as smoking and drinking history, body mass index, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. They found that age, male gender, more pack-years of cigarette smoking, and hearing impairment were associated with early-onset AMD, while higher serum HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) levels appeared to be protective against early AMD. The authors say that this study provides information on how to develop preventive approaches, but that further research must be done. Click here to read more, or here to read the study abstract, published in Archives of Ophthalmology.

Smoking, hypertension top world stroke risks
A large multi-national study has identified ten risk factors that account for 90% of stroke risk, with smoking and high blood pressure being the two most important risk factors. Researchers for the 22-country INTERSTROKE case-control study analyzed data from questionnaires and physical examinations of 3,000 individuals that had suffered an acute stroke and 3,000 age- and sex-matched controls with no history of stroke. The results show that smoking, high blood pressure, high waist-to-hip ratio, poor diet, and low physical activity were the five most important risk factors. Specifically, smoking more than doubled the risk of stroke, and 18.9% of strokes in the study were attributed to smoking. These findings can help shape health policies going forward, and also give individuals information on how to change their lifestyle to prevent stroke. Click here to read more, or click here to read the abstract, published in The Lancet.

top

International

Chinese ‘low-tar’ cigarettes do not deliver lower levels of nicotine and carcinogens (China)
While “low-tar” cigarettes are growing in popularity in China, new research published in Tobacco Control shows that Chinese cigarettes advertised as “low-tar” do not deliver lower doses of nicotine and carcinogens than regular cigarettes. Researchers analyzed urine samples from 543 male Chinese smokers that smoked cigarettes of differing tar contents, and assessed smoking behavior with a questionnaire. They found that while low-tar smokers smoked fewer cigarettes per day, their levels of nicotine and carcinogens were not lower than in the other smokers. These results imply that the low-tar cigarettes are likely not less harmful than regular cigarettes, as the China National Tobacco Corporation promotes. Marketing of “low-tar cigarettes” violates the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which requires signatories like China to enact laws that prohibit marketing that implies false health benefits. Click here to read the abstract of the article.

top

Back to Table of Contents